Update from Jay Leno: Second surgery planned for burns from car fire

LOS ANGELES — Jay Leno underwent surgery for severe burns he sustained when flames erupted while he was working on a vintage car and remains hospitalized for further treatment, the doctor who oversaw his care said Wednesday.

The former “Tonight Show” host is in good shape and his wife Mavis is with him at the Grossman Burn Center north of Los Angeles, said Peter H. Grossman, the center’s medical director at West Hills Hospital.

“He’s in a good mood today,” Grossman said at a television press conference. Last weekend, Leno suffered burns to his face, hands and chest that the cosmetic surgeon rated as second degree or nearly severe.

Some of the facial wounds “are a little bit deeper and a little bit more worrisome” because they’re showing signs of progressing to the third degree, as can happen with burns, Grossman said.

Treatment, aimed at preventing the burns from getting worse, includes high-pressure oxygen therapy to stimulate healing and surgery to clean and shave the burn wounds, he said. A temporary “biologic skin replacement” will be placed over the area, he said.

Leno has recovered well from one surgery and is planning a second this week, Grossman said. The comedian is on his feet telling jokes and is a hit with staff, even handing out cookies to young patients, he said.

The fire happened in the Burbank garage where Leno keeps his famous collection of cars and other motor vehicles, the doctor said. In a statement earlier this week, Leno called the burns “serious” but said he would only need “a week or two to get back on his feet.”

Grossman said he appreciates Leno’s zeal but has cautioned him not to be realistic.

“I had to tell him to step back a little and just realize that some of this takes time,” he said. “He’s very compliant, he understands that. I think he’s realizing that maybe he needs to take it a little slower than he originally anticipated.”

The doctor said he expected Leno to make a full recovery but it was too early to know if there would be “residuals” of the injury. He didn’t elaborate.